A relationship that consumed them as adolescents in the 1970s now torments them and leads inexorably to their destruction. This archetypal story is pure Greek tragedy, yet its setting in a small village in the Czech Republic grounds it in a familiarity which makes the downfall of the protagonists particularly harrowing.

Karel Roden gives a remarkable performance as the ensnared, doomed brother, which stands out for its portrayal of repressed rage and vulnerability. His performance earned him a Czech Lion award nomination at the 2001 Czech Film and Television Academy Awards.